when to use "de" when separating verbs
I have two confusions with the use of the word "de" and I've been unable to find any grammar rules that govern these cases. In one case I don't understand the INCLUSION and the other case i don't understand the EXCLUSION of "de". 1) Until I started taking a new Spanish class I've never seen "de" used to separate verbs. Usually there are just two verbs directly next to each other or the: ir + a + infinitive verb or tener + que + infinitive.
e.g. Ella va a doblar esa señal de pare si no deja de pegarle. [In my mind "de" is completely unnecessary and adds nothing to the sentence. Does removing "de" alter the meaning? What is the rule that defines when i need to use "de" in this context?]
another: Ellos van a estar inflando globos y explotándolos mientras sus padres se volverán locos tratando de encontrarlos. [exact same questions as above.]
Another: él murió tratando de salvarla de un tiburón. [exact same questions as above.]
2) Now why is "de" excluded....My understanding is that words that speak about relative position e.g. enfrente de, al lado de, encima de, etc. should always include "de". Again, just in my new Spanish class, i'm seeing sentences where they exclude the "de". Why is it ok to exclude sometimes and you need to include other times? How do you know when to use that?
e.g. Ellos se estaban registrando cuando llegamos. Yo estaba de pie frente a ti. [There is no "de" after frente and i would also expect "en" to be before "frente". Has "a" replaced "de"? How do you know when to substitute "a" for "de"? Is "a" the "personal a" or does it mean "of" or does it mean BOTH in this case?]
Another: No, él estaba durmiendo cerca a la piscina. [exact same questions as above.]
2 Answers
As far as the verbs go you might find this article helpful?
Verbal expressions: Many verbs are followed by de and often an infinitive to form expressions. There is no logic to which verbs are followed by de. The verbs need need either to be memorized or learned as you come across them. Acabo de salir, I have just left; nunca cesa de comer, he never stops eating; trataré de estudiar, I will try to study; me alegro de ganar, I am happy to win; se olvidó de estudiar, he forgot to study; Romeo se enamoró de Julieta, Romeo fell in love with Juliet.
To partially answer the question (at least, concerning the adverbs cerca, cerca de) read our dictionary note on usage:
adverb 1. Near, at hand, not far off, close by, preceding the noun or pronoun to which it refers, it demands the preposition de.
Look at this definition under frente:
preposition also:
* frente a -> opposite (enfrente de)
Apparently, when used as a preposition (not an adverb) these two constructions are synonymous.
The use of prepositions in Spanish can be difficult because they are not used the same way as they are in English. In Spanish, just as in English, a preposition can completely or partly change the menaing of a word. Consider an English example of the verb, "to go". We know what that means. Notice how the meaning changes when a preposition is added: go up, go down, go around, go through, etc. The verbs you mention also change meaning with the use of the preposition, de. In your first example, "dejar" means to let, permit, allow etc. But "dejar de" plus an infinitive means "to stop" doing something. In your second example, "tratar" means to try or to treat a subject. It would seem that leaving out the "de" is justified here, but "tratar de" plus an infinitive means to try to do somehing, the way we commonly speak in English. As a side note, "tratar con" means to deal with. The only way that you can learn these differences is with study and practice. In the second part of your question, there is a slight difference in the meaning when "de" is not used. In your example, "Yo estataba de pie frente a ti" I would not translate as "I was standing in front of you." I would translate it, "I was standing before you" of maybe even "I was standing by you". These differences are learned as you progress in your Spanish, and I am still learning. I would suggest finding a book that includes the changes in verb meaning when a different preposition is used. That helped me alot when I first learned Spanish.
